Angry Benitez cracks whip - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Angry Benitez cracks whip

Rafael Benitez has demanded his stunned Liverpool stars "show their character" in a spell of matches that could define their season.

As the Spanish coach surveyed the wreckage of a disastrous 1-0 Champions League defeat by Marseille in front of a bemused Anfield, he knows a season that started with high expectations could soon be in total disarray.

Benitez said: "We must improve, we must show our character now. We know we have to do better."

Sunday sees Liverpool face Spurs in the Barclays Premier League, followed by a trip to neighbours Everton and the visit of impressive leaders Arsenal on October 28.

Sandwiched between the Everton and Gunners matches is their next Champions League trip to Istanbul and a clash with Besiktas.

A tough trip to Blackburn and the Besiktas return are Liverpool's opening games in November.

Benitez added: "We showed character to get a draw against Porto when we did not play well, and we showed character to win at Wigan last weekend in a hard match.

"Now we must show character against Tottenham. That is our first priority after the Marseille result."

Benitez's tinkering with his squad again took the brunt of the criticism after the French side turned an impressive display into a well-deserved victory thanks to Mathieu Valbuena's late winner.

But Benitez will not be moved on his rotation policy. He said: "It is not the changes, it is big players not playing well."

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